Tuesday, March 29, 2011

When I moved in with my hunky farmguy Joe 11 years ago, I brought 14 sheep (and a bunch of other critters) with me from my old farm. Martha, who died today, was the last surviving ewe.

She was 14 years old, which, as Joe reminded me, "is probably longer than sheep are supposed to live." (My 15-year-old pet wether Big Chip, the last of the original 14, is still miraculously with us, and still loves to give hugs. His brother, Skinny Chip, died last year. I called them The Chippers.)

Martha, who was sometimes known as the World's Best Pillow, had about the best life a sheep could ask for, though I'm sure she would have liked a few thousand more pounds of grain. A couple of months ago Joe started referring to her as Every Sheep because she demanded a treat whenever any other sheep was being fed—and she could hear the rustle of a grain bucket from half a mile away.

She was the loudest sheep I've ever known—which is saying something—and she was never one to keep her opinions to herself. Basically she never shut up. But in a good way. Mostly.

Thunder is rumbling overhead, raindrops are tapping on The Shack's old tin roof (something I never get tired of listening to), and today's forecast is calling for highs in the 30s, with freezing drizzle and snow flurries on the way.

I love this kind of weather. It makes me want to spend the day curled up next to the woodstove with a vintage quilt and a good book, a beagle pup snoozing quietly nearby (he does stop chewing on things once in a while), and something warm and comforting simmering on the stove.

Spring may have sprung, with 80 degree days last week, but cozy quilt and soup season are thankfully still hanging on. And while farm life doesn't quite lend itself to spending the day on the couch, and the beagle pup laying nearby just loudly crunched on a plastic clothespin (where does he find these things?), making homemade soup is something we can handle.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

I carry my camera with me everywhere around the farm and snap thousands of photos each year, most of which never make it up on these pages. Back in early January I shared a two part, random assortment of personal favorites still sitting in my 2010 monthly 'to post' files:

Part three was supposed to immediately follow, but then puppy madness struck, and I forgot all about it. Since we're gearing up for Lambing Season 2011 to start in a day or two, I figured it's now or never for this cute look back. This is the second half of the lamb photos; you'll find the first half here. And there are links to photos from all of our lambing seasons—plus The Daily Donkey!—at the end of this post. Enjoy!

Monday, March 21, 2011

I carry my camera with me everywhere around the farm and snap thousands of photos each year, most of which never make it up on these pages. Back in early January I shared a two part, random assortment of personal favorites still sitting in my 2010 monthly 'to post' files:

Part three was supposed to immediately follow, but then puppy madness struck, and I totally forgot about it. Since we're gearing up for Lambing Season 2011 to start next week (Joe is down readying the barn as I type this), I figure it's now or never for this cute look back. The rest of the photos (I couldn't narrow it down any further) should be up in a day or two. Enjoy!

These scrumptious cookies offer 'tender chewiness with an edge of crisp bite.'

Am I the last person to fall in love with bestselling author and British domestic goddess Nigella Lawson? The woman is a hoot, and I haven't even seen her Food Network shows. Nigella Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home is Nigella's eighth cookbook but—should I even be admitting this?—my first. Her books have sold over five million copies.

This one is a 3¾ pound (yes, I actually weighed it), 512-page, full-color hardcover that's packed with 190 inspiring recipes, 60 of which are 'express-style,' and makes me want to both crack up laughing and cook.

All I've actually made from it so far are four batches of these wonderful chocolate chip cookies, but this book has already given me several hours of enjoyment and has spent more time in my hands during the last few months than any of my other cookbooks.

Do you have any favorite Nigella cookbooks and/or recipes? I'd love to hear about them. And what about a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe?

Monday, March 07, 2011

Heehaw!The Daily Donkey is a hit—and is actually appearing daily! Thirty days, thirty new donkey photos, all corralled behind The Daily Donkey navigation tab at the top of the page for your viewing pleasure. I also include a link to each new Daily Donkey at the bottom of that day's farm photo or dose of cute post. (If there are multiple farm or cute photos in a post, you'll have to click on the click here for the rest of this post link to reach The Daily Donkey link.)

Thanks for your enthusiastic response to this fun new feature. Now just cross your hooves I can keep up this posting pace. Goodness knows there's no shortage of donkey photos around here, with more being taken every day—like my new favorite above. These girls crack me up. And Esmeralda, the fourth donkette, was right there, too, captured in today's Daily Donkey.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Hello! If a Disney movie preview ad about aliens popped up in the middle of the screen during your farm visit, I apologize. It's not supposed to be there. Yeah, it scared the donkeys, too—but please don't tell them I told you.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Much to my surprise and delight, I've found hundreds of heart shaped rocks around the farm over the last several years. (I'm not real picky; they don't have to be perfect, just like love isn't.) You can see more of my heart rock collection here and here.